Heath Lane Children's Centre logo

Heath Lane Children's Centre

Manager: Anita Harris
Tel: 01442 261043    
Email: manager.heathlane@hertschildrenscentres.org.uk

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Useful Links

 
Useful websites to help with the Credit Crunch 35KB pdf
Domestic Violence
Parenting advice and support
Health advice and support
Adult Learning, Employment and Financial Support
Education and Special Educational Needs
Relationship and emotional support
Child Safety
Child care
Addiction
 
Housing
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Child care:

Find out about all the Children's Centres in Herts.
www.hertsdirect.org
Offering services and information for children under 5.
www.surestart.gov.uk
Hertfordshire County Council's Website
www.childcarelink.gov.uk
Information about child care and early years services in your area.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk
The Department of Children, schools and Families.
www.daycaretrust.org.uk
A national charity, set up to help you make the right decision about childcare.
www.ncma.org.uk
The National Childminding Association
www.pre-school.org.uk
Pre-School Learning Alliance a leading educational charity, specialising in early years.
www.ndna.org.uk
National Day Nurseries Association
www.ofsted.gov.uk
Ofsted website to find reports for childcare providers.

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Parenting advice and support:

 
www.direct.gov.uk/childcare
Advice for parents on child care and parenting.
www.postnatalillness.co.uk
Hertfordshire Postnatal Illness Support offers you and/or your partner information, advice and support online.
www.postnatalillnesscounselling.co.uk
Support for post natal illness
www.mama.co.uk
‘The Meet A Mum Association created to try and help thousands of mothers who feel depressed and isolated when their babies are born
www.apni.org
The Association for post natal illness.
www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) supports all women who have had a traumatic birth experience.
www.netmums.com
Netmums is a unique local network for Mums (or Dads), offering a wealth of information on both a national and local level. In just a few clicks you can chat with local mums in our coffee house, read other mums local recommendations and check out information on pre-schools or schools in your area - it’s all here, under one roof.
www.mumsnet.com
Parent information, tips and advice for parents.
www.tommys.org
A website dediated to helping you have a healthy pregancy.
www.dad.info
Support for fathers.
www.fatherhood.org
 
www.home-start.co.uk
Home-Start's informal and friendly support for families with young children provides a lifeline to thousands of parents and children.
www.dads-haven.co.uk
Dads forum and support
www.talktoyourbaby.org.uk
Free resources to help children develop good language and communication skills.
www.gingerbread.org.uk
Advice and support for one parent families
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Health advice and support:

 
www.youngminds.org.uk
Support for child mental health issues
http://www.understandingchildhood.net
 
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
 
www.hpherts.nhs.uk
Health promotion in Herts.
www.nhs.uk/lifecheck
For parents and carers with babies aged between 5-8 months. It is being designed to help you get started on a healthier life. The questions you will answer in your NHS Early Years LifeCheck will give you personalised information and useful advice about what you can do to help keep your baby healthy, happy and safe, and what you need to consider as he or she gets older.
www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk
A free general health information site for young people and families run by Great Ormond Street Hospital.
www.5aday.nhs.uk
Tips and receipes to help you get your 5 fruit and veg a day
www.hacsg.org.uk
Hyperactive Children's Support Group
www.postnatalillnesscounselling.co.u
k Access support for post natal illness
www.apni.org
The Association for post natal illness. Provides support to mothers suffering from post-natal illness. Increases public awareness of the illness and encourages research into its cause and nature
www.postnatalillness.co.uk
Hertfordshire Postnatal Illness Support is here to offer you and/or your partner information, advice and support online.
www.bliss.org.uk
Premature Babies
www.nits.net
Advice on treating headlice
www.capt.org.uk
Child Accident Prevention Trust
www.redcross.org.uk
 
www.gosmokefree.nhs.uk
Support to give up smoking
www.healthystart.nhs.uk
Find out if you an qualify for Free milk, fruit and veg. Information and advice on food and health tips for a healthy diet.
www.adhdisreal.co.uk
ADHD advice and support
www.downs-syndrome.org.uk
 
www.playskill.co.uk
Playskill is a new charity which has set up a parent and child term-time group for pre-school children with special physical needs in Watford.  It is run by a skilled team, including a physiotherapist, occupational and speech and language therapist
www.cafamily.org.uk
Contact a family - for families with a disabled child
www.hertsdirect.org/parentpartnership
The aim of the Parent Partnership Service is to ensure parents and carers have access to impartial information, advice and guidance so they can make appropriate informed decisions in relation to their child's special educational needs.
www.afasic.org.uk
support for children with speech difficulties
www.brainwave.org.uk
Therapy for Children with Developmental Delay,Cerebral Palsy, Genetic Disorder or Brain Injury
www.rnib.org.uk
Royal National Institute for the Blind
 
www.eczema.org
National Eczema Society
www.cftrust.org.uk
Cystic Fibrosis Trust
 
www.nas.org.uk
National Autsistic Society
www.ndcs.org.uk
National Deaf Childrens Society
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Education and Special needs:

 
www.nagcbritain.org.uk
The National Association for Gifted Children
www.ican.org.uk
CAN works to support the development of speech, language and communication skills in all children with a special focus on those who find this hard: children with a communication disability.
www.brainwave.org.uk
Therapy for Children with Developmental Delay,Cerebral Palsy, Genetic Disorder or Brain Injury
www.hertsdirect.org/parentpartnership
The aim of the Parent Partnership Service is to ensure parents and carers have access to impartial information, advice and guidance so they can make appropriate informed decisions in relation to their child's special educational needs.
www.cafamily.org.uk
Contact a family - for families with a disabled child.
0808 808 3555
www.familyfund.org.uk
Family Trust Fund - Financial help for equipment or services for a disabled child
0845 130 4542
www.dialuk.org.uk
Welcome to DIAL UK, a national organisation for a network of approximately 120 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people
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Adult Learning, Employment and
Financial Support
:

 
www.learndirect.com
Careers and training advice
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Provides help and advice on jobs and training for people who can work and financial help for those who cannot.
www.basic-skills.co.uk
Basic Skills Agency. Committed to finding, developing and disseminating good practice in literacy, language and numeracy. For adults, families and teenagers
www.literacytrust.org.uk
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that changes lives through literacy
www.dacorumlearningp.btik.com
Dacorum Learning Partnership -To promote access to and particpation in lifelong learning by all residents or working in Dacorum over the age of 16.
www.fwa.org.uk
If you’re struggling to fund costs associated with your own education or training, please call the Family Welfare Association (FWA) on 020 7254 6251
www.newdeal.gov.uk
A programme that gives people on benefits the help and support they need to look for work, including training and preparing for work.
www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/EastofEngland
Working together, we aim to develop a responsive system of learning and skills provision that will meet the needs of learners, businesses and communities
http://www.disabilityalliance.org/
 
www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit
Find out about claiming child benefit
www.hmrc.gov.uk/home.htm
Claim child and working tax credit 0845 300 3900
www.workingfamilies.org.uk
Our name defines two of the most important parts of life: family and employment. These are often in conflict. We feel passionately that this is unnecessary, counter-productive and must change.
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Financial worries on top of everything else can put a strain on anyone’s emotional well-being - if you’d like help thinking about managing your money and/or debt advice, log onto the Citizens Advice website
www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk
Information on tax credits and child benefits
http://www.direct.gov.uk/taxcredits
 
www.parentsguidetomoney.fsa.gov.uk
Financial Sevices Authority - Whether you work with families or are starting your own, you will know that staying in control of your finances can be a challenge. On this site you will find lots of information, resources, leaflets and some fun extras for the kids. 0845 606 1234
www.payingforchildcare.org.uk
This website will help you to understand the different types of financial support you may be able to receive to help you with the costs of your childcare.
www.csa.gov.uk
Child Support Agency, for advice re child maintenance. 0845 713 3133
www.cmoptions.org
Child Maintenance Options - Find out about your maintenance options and making the arrangement best suited to your needs
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Free advice and help with managing debts and budgeting 0808 808 4000
www.cccs.co.uk
Consumer Credit Counselling Service - help with debts and managing money 0800 138 1111
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Free advice and help 020 7407 4070
www.childtrustfund.gov.uk
What is it and how do you claim your child's trust fund?
www.turn2us.org.uk
Can help you access funds if you are in financial need
www.familyfund.org.uk
Family Trust Fund - Financial help for equipment or services for a disabled child 0845 130 4542
www.turning-point.co.uk
Our work across substance misuse, mental health, learning disability, employment and young people's support has led us to develop approaches that tackle people's whole needs
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Child Safety:

 
www.kidscape.org.uk
Helping to prevent bullying and child abuse
www.csef.net
The Childrens Safety Education Foundation. Tips and resources to help keep your children safe.
www.directgovkids.co.uk
An interactive site to help children discover the world around them safely
www.childseyemedia.com
Watch the safer people, safer buildings film with your child. The new initiative to help children keep themselves safe
www.capt.org.uk
Child Accident Prevention Trust
www.trafficclub.co.uk/
The children's trafficlub is a site aimed at 3-4 year olds to help you explore with them road safety.
http://www.childnet.com/kia/parents/
For help with keeping your child safe on the Internet
http://www.bbc.co.uk/chatguide/
ChatGuide brings you the best information on how to keep you and your family safe online.

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Relationship and emotional support :

 
www.relatedacorum.co.uk
a counselling service with expertise and experience in relationships
www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/couples/
comm _counselling.shtml
All relationships go through bad patches but could you benefit from counselling?
www.ukcouplescounselling.com
Couples Counselling Network provides well-qualified counsellors, who have specialist training and many years experience working with couples
www.coupleconnection.net
This interactive, self-help site will provide you with resources and practical tools that will enable you to improve your relationship with your partner.
www.samaritans.org
Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
www.sane.org.uk
Support with mental health issues 0845767 8000
www.mind.org.uk
Support with around mental health issues 0845 766 0163
www.turning-point.co.uk
Our work across substance misuse, mental health, learning disability, employment and young people's support has led us to develop approaches that tackle people's whole needs

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Domestic Violence

 
www.ncdv.org.uk
The National Centre for Domestic Violence.
www.womensaid.org.uk
Help and support for women living with domestic violence
www.endabuse.org
Advice and support including advice on how to help boys grow into non violent men.
www.healthyrelationships.org.uk
Help and advice including solutions which target the cause of the abuse and relationship probelems within the family.
www.respect.uk.net
Respect is the UK membership association for domestic violence perpetrator programmes and associated support services. Our key focus is on increasing the safety of those experiencing domestic violence through promoting effective interventions with perpetrators. 0845 122 8609 Find your nearest course to help you change your behaviour.
www.changeweb.org.uk/respect.htm
Respect’s key focus is on increasing the safety of those experiencing domestic violence through promoting effective interventions with perpetrators

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Family Planning

 
www.fpa.org.uk
The Family Planning Association is the UK's leading sexual health charity, offering a wide range of information on sexual health issues including contraception, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy choices, abortion and planning a pregnancy
 
www.tommys.org
A website dediated to helping you have a healthy pregancy

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Addiction

 
www.units.nhs.uk
Learn the safe limits for alcohol consumption
 
www.downyourdrink.org.uk
An online self-help programme for anyone worried about their drinking; confidential, free and accessible 24 hours a day.
www.addaction.org.uk
Addaction is a UK-wide treatment agency, helping individuals, families and communities to manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse
www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Worldwide organisation Al-Anon offering support and understanding to the families and friends of problem drinkers, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not. Confidential Helpline: 020 740 30 888, open from 10am to 10pm.
www.adfam.org.uk
ADFAM offers information and advice for families of alcohol and drug users. The website has a list of local family support services. Telephone: 020 7553 7640.
www.alcoholconcern.org.uk
Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse for England and Wales. It offers general information about alcohol and can help put you in touch with your nearest alcohol advice centre. Telephone: 020 7264 0510.
www.talktofrank.com
National drugs awareness site for young people and parents/carers. Confidential helpline: 0800 77 66 00.
www.beatingaddictions.co.uk
Support to recognise and beat all types of addiction.
www.b-eat.co.uk
Support for eating disorders
www.gamcare.org.uk
Help with gambling addictions
www.turning-point.co.uk
Our work across substance misuse, mental health, learning disability, employment and young people's support has led us to develop approaches that tackle people's whole needs.
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Housing

 
www.shelter.org.uk
The housing and homeless charity
 
The housing advice service - 01442 228900
www.dacorum.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2774
Dacorum Borough Council - Housing Needs - 01442 228449
 
Night Shelters - DENS Hemel - 01442 262274
 
Dacorum rent aid - 01442 251213 or email dacorumrentaid@tiscali.co.uk
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Disclaimer

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